I found this book (Foundations of the Sunnah) for free on-line, so decided to upload it to my server and provide the Contents and the Brief Note on this book. For those who know who Imaam Ahmed (d. 241 AH), rahimullah, is, then you know the value of this book. Obviously the original book is in Arabic, the following is only a translation with footnotes by the translator or transcriber, the book can be bought here if one wants to have a printed hard copy of it. If you don’t know who Imaam Ahmad rahimullah is, then you should read this article on the Imaam by Abuz Zubair, it has got to be one of the best Biographies and one of the most extensive available on-line. Also a short khutbah that mentions some of the important and moving events from the Imaam‘s life can be found in Muhamamd alShareef’s khutbah on the Imaam or in his CD set on the Four Imaams available through EmanRush or IlmQuest

Introduction by Fawwaaz Ahmad az-ZumarleePart One: A Brief Note on Usoolus-Sunnah: The Foundations of the SunnahPart Two: The Sunnah upon which the Messenger of Allaah diedPart Three: A Description of the Believer from Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ahChapter One: The Life and Trials of Imaarn AhmadChapter Two: On the Meaning of Eemaan – A Refutation of the Mu’tazilah of TodayChapter Three: Some Sayings from the Salaf Concerning Allaah’s Attributes and their Consensus Concerning the Falsehood of Ta’weel – A refutation of the Ash’ariyyahChapter Four: Affirming the Attributes of Allaah with their Dhaahir (Apparent) and Haqeeqi (Real) Meaning and a Refutation that the Way of the Salaf was Allegedly Tafweedh – A Refutation of the MufawwidahChapter Five: The Consensus of the Salaf from among the Companions of Allaah’s Messenger on the Prohibition of Reviling the Rulers and Publicizing their Faults, be they Righteous or Sinful – A Refutation of the KhawaarijChapter Six: The Distinguishing Signs of Ahlus-SunnahChapter Seven: The Distinguishing Signs of Ahlul-Bid’ah (the People of Innovation)Chapter Eight: On the Prohibition of Sitting with the People of Innovation; Listening to them, Arguing with them, To Abandon them and those who Associate with them.Chapter Nine: On the Necessity of Accepting the Ahadeeth Reported by Reliable and Trustworthy Narrators Mentioning the Attributes of Allaah – A Refutation against the Rationalist School of ThoughtChapter Ten: The Ahadeeth of Abul-l-lasan al-Ash’aree and a Refutation of the Ash’ariyyahGlossary of Arabic Terms

A BRIEF NOTE ON USOOL-US-SUNNAH
This treatise has been mentioned in Tabaqaatul- Hanaabilah (1/241-246) in the biography of ‘Abdoos ibn Maalik, one of the nearest students of Imaam Ahmad.

Another concise summary of his creed can be found in the same work Tabaqaatul-Hanaabilah (1/311-313),

Abul-Husain Muhammad ibn Abee Ya’laa said:
I quoted from Ahmad ash-Shanjee with his isnaad that he said:
I heard from Muhammad ibn ‘Awf saying:Ahmad ibn Hanbal dictated to me…

and then he mentioned it.

The Imaam al-Laalikaa’ee has also mentioned this creed in his Sharh Usool I‘tiqaad Ahlis-Sunnah wal-Jamaa‘ah (1/156-164) where he said,

Also the magazine, al-Mujaahid, published the treatise, ‘Usoolus-Sunnah’ in the Sha’baan edition in 1411H taken from the manuscript which had been put together with the
painstaking efforts of our Shaikh Muhammad Naasirud-Deen al-Albaanee, may Allah protect him.

From the manuscript copy (no. 68, Q. 10-15) which is kept at the Dhaahiriyyah Library in Damascus, Syria.

There are some differences between the manuscripts and I have indicated them in my footnotes to the text of this creed.

Steps in the Verification of this Treatise

(i) I have depended upon the two printings of this creed in my verification of it. The first: the one present in Tabaqaatul. Hanaabilah and the second, the one mentioned in Shark Usool I’tiqaad of the Imaam al-Laalikaa’ee. The first one has been published in the magazine al-Mujaahid and was taken from the manuscript copy of the Muhaddith of the Era, Muhammad Naasir ud-Deen Albaanee, may Allaah protect him, and I have recondled between whatever differences were found in the manuscripts

(ii) I have referenced the Qur’anic aayahs, the ahaadeeth and their sayings wherever I found it possible.

(iii) I have provided biographies of the notable people that have been mentioned in the treatise

I ask Allaah that He gives me success in that which He loves and is eased with from among the sayings, actions and beliefs. That He moves us from falling into mistakes, that He grants us safety from desires and innovations and that he makes this work in the balance my good deeds on the day that I meet Him.

This is book every student of knowledge should read and teach to others. I’m in awe after completing it. The biography of Imam Ahmad (rh) was exceptionally touching and amazing. Forget the PDF, buy this book and encourage others to.

Among the greatest things I extracted from this book was the statement of the Prophet (sws) that those who hold fast to what the companions were on will receive the reward of 50 of them.

May Allah (swt) make us from among those who hold fast to the Aqeedah of the Sahabah and receive the reward that our Prophet promised to them.

Chapter 4: Repayment1.Missing a day of fast in Ramadhan2.When does one make up a missed fast3.If missed fast are not made up until few dats before next Ramadhan4.Missed fasts first or voluntary?

Chapter 5: Recommended, Disliked, and Impermissible Days of Fasting1.Recommended Every Other Day Sawn Dawood2.The three white days of every Islamic month3.Six days of Shawwaal4.Month of Muharram and the 10th5.Ten days of Dhil Hijja and that of Arafat6.Disliking of the month of Rajab7.Disliking of the day of Friday8.Disliking of the 30th of Shabaan9.Impermissibility of fasting on the two Eids10.Completing of a voluntary fast is not Wajib